NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A second-half comeback was not enough to lift the Jacksonville State men's basketball team over Tennessee State on Thursday, falling 65-55 at the Gentry Center in the Music City.
 
The Gamecocks (12-18, 7-10 OVC) outscored the Tigers (17-13, 9-8 OVC) 42-35 in the second half of the road contest, but the 17-point deficit dealt before halftime proved too much to overcome in the final regular season road game.
 
"We weren't able to finish plays tonight," head coach Ray Harper said. "We had zero assists at the half, we didn't move the ball and then we had about eight point-blank shots on the rim in the first half that we missed. You can't do that at this level and expect to win."
 
Tennessee State opened the game on a 10-0 run. It wasn't until the 15:55 mark of the half that Jacksonville State scored its first basket – a jumper from Derrick Cook. The Gamecocks were able to keep the game within seven points until a 7-0 run by the home team opened up a 14-point hole.
 
Despite the Tiger offense coughing the ball up 10 times, TSU outscored Jax State 30-13 in the first period. The Tennessee State defense held the Gamecocks to 5-for-33 shooting in the opening half. De'Torrion Ware and Kayne Henry were the only JSU scorers to tally more than two points, putting up five and four, respectively, before the break.
 
Jacksonville State found its footing in the second half, besting Tennessee State by seven points in the final 20 minutes. After shooting just 15.2 percent in the first period, the Gamecocks came back from the locker room to shoot 53.6 percent (15-for-28).
 
After going 0-for-4 in the first, Cross tallied 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting, and Henry pitched in 11 more points to bring his game total to a team-best 15. Seven of Henry's points came from the free-throw line, and he grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Jacksonville State was able to come within nine points of the Tiger lead – after trailing by as many as 19 points in the same half – but the single-digit deficit came too late. One minute remained on the clock when Elias Harden hit back-to-back free throws to make it a 62-53 game.
 
The Gamecocks return to Pete Mathews Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 29 to host Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. Jacara Cross and Ty Hudson will be honored prior to the start of the game in a Senior Night presentation. In addition, the 1985 NCAA Division II men's basketball team is set to be recognized at halftime of the contest.
 
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